The Power of the Arts in Action
Time to read: 2.5 minutes
A partner of Arts Commons in arts-based learning and co-producer of the ground-breaking Our Canada, Our Story, ActionDignity provides essential support to many of the diverse ethno-cultural communities in our city.
Over the past few months, ActionDignity has been stretching themselves even further, supporting communities through COVID-19 with policy briefings – delivering vital information directly into communities around how to access COVID-19 benefits, the difference between CERB and employment insurance, as well as providing wellness support during this difficult and stressful time. Within this umbrella of vital community support, there is a role for the arts to play.
Originally hailing from Toronto, ActionDignity’s Carissa Gravelle works to coordinate arts-based youth programs for marginalized communities in Calgary. Since moving to Calgary, she has observed that different cultural groups tend to silo themselves within the city, and her program helps to unite Calgary’s racialized youth to create a broader sense of community – and she does this through the arts. “The arts are really important because I feel that the best way to educate and express yourself through the trauma of racism is through the arts,” says Carissa.
Arts Commons began working with ActionDignity in December of 2017 as venue supporter of the first theatrical production of Our Canada, Our Story in the Jack Singer Concert Hall. Building on the success of this, ActionDignity began hosting their monthly Youth PLACE meet-ups at Arts Commons, hosting speakers, leadership workshops, and arts-based community building activities. During these meet-ups, the young people involved shared their stories and experiences of being racialized youth, which were brought together to form the second Our Canada, Our Story production, presented in the Martha Cohen Theatre in February, 2020. The performance was accompanied by a community market and additional community performances from ethno-cultural groups across Calgary in both the theatre lobby and the Centre Court of Arts Commons. Performing on world-class stages like the Jack Singer Concert Hall and the Martha Cohen Theatre, with the full professional production support of Arts Commons, helped to elevate these important stories and provide the platform they deserved.
“The youth were amazed by how well received their stories were from the audience after the performance, they truly felt heard,” says Carissa. “They now have the confidence to speak out about injustices and represent their cultures unapologetically.”
“I think the emotional growth that happens, and the confidence building that doing those performing arts type of initiatives and putting themselves out there is actually a really valuable skill set,” says Carissa. “We’ve seen youth that didn’t even know they had skill sets in the arts become really immersed in it, and now potentially looking at developing careers in the arts – when they wouldn’t have before.”
Since the initial success of the first Our Canada, Our Story, ActionDignity has expanded their youth arts programming at Arts Commons, adding two subsequent performances - Labelled and the previously mentioned second presentation of Our Canada, Our Story. “Projects like Labelled through the Youth PLACE program, and Our Canada, Our Story part two, are really impactful in regards to teaching the broader community about the lived experiences of racialized and marginalized communities,” says Carissa.
Their newest initiative - the B.L.A.C.K (Becoming Leaders Acquiring Critical Knowledge) Project - focuses on creating self-esteem, health and wellness among Black youth, and looks to use animation and traditional artforms to combat anti-Black racism and create brave spaces for growth and sharing.
“We’ve seen how these kids have transformed on stage, even from Our Canada, Our Story, Labelled, and Our Canada, Our Story, part two, I feel like the youth actors outshone the adult actors a hundred percent,” says Carissa. “They didn’t have much time to prepare for that, but their stories were raw, and valid, and truthful.”
“Using the arts can highlight that youth are not alone in their experiences and for them - that’s a very powerful thing.”
